Team Greens rider Etienne Bonello showed sheer determination to challenge for the Road Race national championship after pulling a powerful ride in San Martin last Sunday.

With the GSSE round the corner, riders are reaching their peak form and this has been proven by means of a new course record set on the gruelling course of San Martin.  

From the word go the race was fast with the major teams protecting their leaders till the first climb up San Martin Hill.

Bonello showed no mercy as he powered his way to the top. Despite not being successful to steer clear from the main peloton, his progression made legs hurt.

Into the second lap the race heated up as a series of attacking attempts made racing really hard; however it was in the second San Martin hill that the decisive break took place. Yet again the hammering on the pedals of Bonello up the hill proved to be successful, as direct championship rival Maurice Formosa (Melita), Clive Ebejer (Melita) and Keith Galea (B’Kara St Joseph) were able to sustain the pace.  

The leading riders took turns to maintain the high speed and stay away from the chasing group who had almost caught the leaders before tackling the third hill.

After seven laps, the final climb to the finish was very nervous as the four riders watched each other closely; however, Bonello’s powerful sprint did not fail him as he crossed the line in front of Formosa with Ebejer clinching third.

National coach Jack Schiavone followed all the action on a motorbike behind the leading riders. Schiavone had only words of praise on the way the leaders interpreted the race.

He commented that the race was approached with the right mentality and determination. The constant elevated speed and group dynamics were similar to what the team will face in the upcoming GSSE.

Podium finishers in the other categories

U/15 Boys

1st – Carl Xuereb – Mosta AF Sign Studio

2nd – Nicholas Zammit – Mosta AF Sign Studio

3rd – Edward Gatt – Team Greens

U/15 Girls

1st – Nina Zammit – Mosta AF Sign Studio

2nd – Martina Sciberras – Mosta AF Sign Studio

3rd – Veronica Sant – Mosta AF Sign Studio

Masters 60+

1st – Emanuel Camilleri – Mosta AF Sign Studio

2nd – George Abela – Qormi Scott

3rd – Anthony Borg – Qormi Scott

Masters 50+

1st – Twanny Pisani – Mosta AF Sign Studio

2nd – Emanuel Bezzina – Mosta AF Sign Studio

3rd – Charles Sammut – Team Greens

Masters 40+

1st – Joseph Bonello – Team Greens

2nd – Mark Schembri – Mosta AF Sign Studio

3rd – Steve Bell – Team Greens

Ladies

1st – Marie Claire Aquilina – Team Greens

2nd – Claudia Zammit – Mosta AF Sign Studio

Juniors

1st – Terrance Lauri